Yes, websites are 30+ years old but are nowhere near outdated! In fact, websites have evolved into multi-million dollar tool for countless industries, brands, and businesses and have helped innovative businesses to a whole different level. Some business owners might find it hard to know what to include on their websites, even if they’ve had one for years. The good news is that it gets less complicated each year, and here’s how.
Before knowing what to put on your website, you have to know what purpose your website will serve (eCommerce, blog, non-profit, lead generation, etc.). Generally, websites are your business's online home, and recently, more businesses have moved their brand completely web-based, making websites the main tool to run and operate their business services.
Generally, there are 4 main components of your website (depending on its purpose and your target audience’s needs) that will be the base for you to keep updating content little by little and building your brand’s online home. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
No. 1: The Header and Top Menu Bar
If your website is a one-page design or multiple pages, having a menu and a header is crucial because it is often the first thing visitors see when they enter your website. It usually includes your brand’s logo with the menu bar to navigate your web page. This menu is a readable link list to the main areas of your website, which are usually your home page, about page, services or products page, and contact page. Furthermore, you can include categories in this menu, guiding your visitors to a specific area of your website. Make sure your header and top menu bar are up to date and include the main goals for your website that will benefit your business.
No. 2: The Visual Content (Images, Videos)
The saying goes: “a picture is worth a thousand words,” which is undebatable in the digital world. Whether you use a stock image or your own, a picture can help your visitors visualize what your brand does and what it offers. The same goes for videos, which have always been popular and effective visual content because they enhance your brand even more and sometimes can guarantee instant leads and customers. Image and video content are your brand’s visual personality; with them, you can say more than a thousand words and show what your brand is all about.
No. 3: The Written Content
Though images and videos can do almost 60% of the promotional work on your website, words are still powerful, and they can either help you increase your target audience or lose it altogether. Likewise, most of your page’s written content is CTA (call to action) placed in buttons, titles, blogs, linked words or sentences, and pop-ups. These are the driving force behind your website navigation, and it is important to know when and where to place them on your page. Did we mention that written content is great for SEO? (Search Engine Optimization) This content helps your business be found by more search engines and rank higher.
No. 4: The Footer
Just like the header, the footer of your website is also extremely important for your visitor’s journey. Think of your header as the entrance door of your website and your footer as the exit door. This area contains basic information about your business, like contact information and social media link buttons to attract more followers. Still, it can also be a great place to add your CTA tools, like a subscribe button for your email newsletter and instant links to important information about your business (Privacy Policy, Site Terms, etc.). It’s usually the area visitors go towards to confirm your business is legit.
Do you need to update your website? Start a brand new website? Let us help you! We are proud to be a Wix Partner and build websites for hundreds of small businesses. Take a look at our website development services and contact us today.